176 THE VETERINARY DOCTOR. 
RINGBONE AND SIDEBONE. 
Ringbone is a bony enlargement on the pastern-bone just above the 
crown, finally surrounding the bone. Szdebone is a like enlargement at 
the back part of the crown of the foot, either inside or outside; the name 
is also applied to ossification of the elastic wings of the bone of the foot, 
which causes a change in the structure, reducing or destroying the elas- 
ticity, and producing lameness. Sometimes both disorders exist at 
once in the same leg, especially in heavy draught-horses, destroying all 
action save in the fetlock. The hind legs are less often affected than the 
fore ones, though all four may be attacked at the same time. The chief 
causes are a false step; a dislocation; a blow; great strain on the ligaments 
of the joints; perhaps hereditary weakness of the fibers and ligaments. 
Symptoms.—iIn ringbone, a hard, unyielding enlargement of bone 
above the crown of the foot; in s¢dedonze, a similar growth a little lower; 
pain from motion; affected parts in first stages hot, tender, perhaps swollen; 
occasionally great throbbing of the arteries. 
TREATMENT.—In the first stages, for pain on motion, hot, tender, 
swollen parts, or for throbbing arteries, give aconite internally, and apply 
it externally by saturating a linen rag in dilute tincture—one part to six of 
water—binding it on and keeping it moist until inflammation wholly disap- 
pears. A lotion of rhus, one ounce of tincture in fifteen ounces of water 
applied several times a day externally, a teaspoonful of the same dilution 
being given internally every four hours, is beneficial. In the early stages 
this will cure ringbone. A lotion of corrosive sublimate, sixty grains 
dissolved in one pint of hot water, is highly recommended. Rub it in until 
the skin gets thin and scurfy, that is, for a few days; then discontinue a 
day or two and rub the parts with oil and wash well with soap and water. 
After this rub it on again. Put ona bar-shoe, the bar resting on the balls 
of the frog, and pare the hoof so as not to rest on the shoe. Continue the 
use of this shoe when work is resumed. Considerable time is required. 
HOOF-BOUND.—CONTRACTION OF THE HOOF. 
These terms are applied to a contraction of the foot, which may be 
natural, and which may be aggravated if not independently caused by 
defects of shoeing; leaving the shoes on too long; too much paring; neglect 
Cc 
c—) 
in providing moisture by pads for the soles; excessive litter lying all the 
time in the stall; slow inflammation of the fleshy parts and bone-coating 
near the horny surface ; irregular and insufficient exercise, with rich or 
excessive feeding. 
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